The event opened with a keynote address by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, followed by a high-level panel discussion featuring H.E. Fatima Yousif Al Naqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry’s representative at Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF); Abeer Al Ameeri, Head of Partnerships and Programs at Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa); Maher Al Kaabi, Independent Board Member at Alserkal Group; Dr. Veselina Yankova, Program Chair of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), and Sonia Weymuller, Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq.

The panel was moderated by Asmae Lemniei, Managing Director at Lean X Consulting, and offered a dynamic dialogue on The E71 model for building a thriving cybersecurity and AI innovation ecosystem, setting the tone for the sessions that followed. A major highlight of the event is the Unlock Pitch Competition, taking place in North Star. A select group of startups will pitch their innovative solutions live to a panel of investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. The competition aims to highlight promising ventures and accelerate growth opportunities through visibility and strategic engagement.

CyberE71’s presence at GISEC North Star reflects its commitment to nurturing cybersecurity tech talent and positioning the UAE as a regional leader in cybersecurity innovation. Through dynamic programming, investor engagement, and strategic partnerships, the event is bringing together the region’s brightest minds to co-create tomorrow’s cyber solutions.